Carrel-desk structure



May 4, 1965 A. c. BURR CARREL-DESK STRUCTURE Filed March 15, 1963 INVENTOR. Zia/n C 301%. BY fal n (0! 17 A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,131,920 CAL-DESK STRUCTURE Alan Carleton Burr, East Norwalk, Conn., assignor to Howe Folding Furniture lino, New York, N.Y., a corporation or Connecticut Filed Mar. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 265,380 16 Claims. (.Cl. 312223) The invention relates to a folding structure which is readily convertible for use as a carrel or for use as a desk.

A structure embodying the invention is well adapted for use in a modern class room where; as a carrel it finds use by students for listening to wire recorders, and for viewing slides and film strips with a minimum of distraction of one student by another, and for concentrated application while studying and while taking tests; and as a desk it gives minimum obstruction of view and is particularly well adapted for arts and crafts work. In either form its height is well suited for use by students. In fact, the means by which the heights of the structure in either use are so nearly the same is a feature of the invention.

The structure disclosed herein may be made in various lengths for use by one, two or several students. When not in use it may be folded into a plurality of adjacent parallel planes for storage Where it will require a minimum of storage space. In use it may be readily and quickly converted between a carrel and a desk, usable in either form by one, two or several students depending on the length of the structure.

An object of the invention is to provide a convertible structure of the kind mentioned above which will be simple, durable and reliable and well suited to the needs of a modern class room.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved structure, providing one, two or several carrels with the carrel top and the carrel back interconnected in such a way, and with partitions, forming the sides of the Carrels, mounted and supported in a way such that in either use its height will be well adapted for the intended use.

The invention will best be understood if the following description is read in connection with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a structure embodying the invention, shown disposed for use as a carrel.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 2:: is a detail of the pin and slot connection between members and 22.

FIGURE 3 is an end view showing the structure disposed for use as a desk, and

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of the structure completely folded.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein the numeral 10 identifies a first member which, when the structure is used as a carrel, is the top of the carrel. Below member lit a shelf 12 is spaced from member It by members 14 and 14a depending from member Iii. It will be noted that spacing members 14a are disposed at the respective ends of the shelf 12. Pairs of legs 16 and 18, interconnected by a cross member 20, are provided hinged to end spacing members 14a at either end of shelf 12 by hinges 13 interconnecting the lower edges of cross members 2t) and spacing members 14a respectively and extending upwardly above shelf 12 when unfolded with their upper ends extending to member 10 and disposed directly under member Iii at its respective ends. The hinge means 13 for the legs are thus disposed intermediate the ends of the legs respectively, and the inner surfaces of the portionsof the legs above the hinge means are disposed in abutting relation to the spacing members 14a respectively.

The pairs of legs 16 and 18 are foldable from their operative upright position to a position in which they are substantially parallel to the carrel top 10 and the shelf 12, in a plane below, and directly adjacent to the plane of shelf 12.

The numeral 22 identifies a second member which, when the structure is used as a carrel, is the back of the carrel, and, when the structure is used as a desk, is the top of the desk. Member 22 is connected to member 10 by the pins 24 which have T-shaped heads disposed in the C-shaped channel members 26. As illustrated here in the pins 24 are the rearward extensions of strips 28 disposed transversely at spaced intervals on the upper surface of member 10. The portions of strips 28 which are extended beyond the rear edge of member 10 to form pins 24 are bent upwardly and so their T-shaped heads are disposed above member lit as well as to the rear of member 10. The I-shaped channel members 26 are disposed transversely of member 22 and extend, from adjacent the edge which is the lower edge when member 22 is disposed to form a carrel back, part way across mem: ber 22. Each member 26 is secured to member 22 by a pair of screws 30 and 32 which extend through the portion of 26 which is in contact with member 22, adjacent the respective ends of member 26;, and the heads of the screws serve as stop members limiting the sliding movement of member 22 on the pins 24 as well as fastening the strips 26 on member 22. The screws 30;, 32 are spaced apart a distance which permits part of member 22 to extend below the level of member It when member 22 is serving as the back of a carrel, and permits the edge of member 22 which is its upper edge when serving as the back of a carrel to be disposed in front of the front edge of member Iii when member 22 is serving as the top of a des i A wireway 34 is mounted on the surface of member 22 which is the front surface when serving as a carrel back, disposed longitudinally of member 22adiacent the upper edge of said surface where it serves also as a strengthening means. Wireway 34 defines jacks as at spaced intervals equal in number to the number of students or other users for which the structure is intended. Each jack has within it two terminals 38 and it? which are interconnected when a plug 42 of an earphone set is inserted in it, thus connectingeach earphone set to the leads which are provided in the wireway to transmit recordings of foreign languages, for example, as, an aid in language teaching. Such use is only one of the many uses of a carrel desk. It will be understood that no claim is made to the wireway 34, the jacks 36 or plugs 42, per se, which are of known kind and commercially available.

Also disposed transversely of member 22, on its surface which is its front when member 22 is serving as the back of the carrel, are the strip members 44, spaced apart and disposed to serve as stop and abutment members for the partition members 46 respectively when the structure is employed as a carrel, and to serve as spacing members, supporting member 22 a predetermined distance above member 10 when the structure is employed as a desk. Preferably, members 4-4 and 26 are disposed in transverse alignment on member 22, with the members 44 above the members 26 when member 22 isdisposed as the back of a carrel structure.

The partition members 46 are hinged on the member 10 at spaced intervals and are movable between a position in which they are upright, extending transversely of member 10 and forming the sidesof a single or multiple carrel, depending upon the length of the structure, and a position in which they are folded down on the upper surface of member 10, in a plane parallel to and directly above member Ill. As shown, the members 46 are of a depth or length slightly less than the width of member 10,

and are disposed with their rear edges substantially flush with the rear edge of member and the front edges slightly inward from the front edge of member 10.

Strips 28 are disposed on member 10 in alignment, transversely of member 10, with the strip members 44 and C channel members 26 which are themselves respectively aligned, and disposed in end to end relation transversely of member 22. The partition members 46 are mounted on, and hingedly connected to, the strips 28 by hinges 48. One leaf 48a of the hinges for each partition member 46 is attached on the top of a strip 28 and the other leaf 48b of the hinge is attached on the side of the partition member which is its far side relative to the strip 28. The Width of hinge leaf 48a is greater than the thickness of the partition member and it extends under the edge of the partition member which is its bottom edge when the partition member is used as a side wall of a carrel. This arrangement offsets the partition member from the stop and abutment member 44 which is aligned with the strip 28 to which the partition member is hinged with the result that when the partition member is unfolded it will be stopped in the desired upright position by member 44.

Means are provided for holding the partition member 46 in upright position against their abutment members 44 respectively, comprising bolts 50 carried by the partition members 46 individually and adapted to be inserted in apertures 51 provided in the wireway 34. The apertures 51 are spaced to be in register with the bolts respectively when the partition members are in upright posit-ion. Any suitable bolt and means for mounting it for sliding action at any suitable angle may be used. The bolt 50 shown is a hollow longitudinally slotted member mounted for sliding movement by brackets 52. A member 54 attached at one end to one of the brackets 52 extends into the bolt through its open lower surface and frictionally engages the inner surface of the bolt with sufiicient force to retain it in locking position although it can readily be returned to inoperative position when it is desired to fold down the member 46 on which it is mounted. The structure of the bolt per se forms no part of this invention.

It will be noted that in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the structure described provides either, a long desk, adapted to seat three or more on a side, with member 22 superimposed over member 10 and over the folded down partition members 46, and spaced above the folded partition members by the members 44, or three carrels with member 10 serving as the top for all of them and member 22 serving as the back for all of them. -It will be also noted that in the illustrated embodiment of the invention there are only three partition members 46, the end carrel on the viewers left as seen in FIGURE 1 being open on the outer or left side. Often these structures are placed end to end in which case the partition member at the extreme right of one structure will serve also as the partition for the open side of the adjacent carrel of the next structure, and it will be seen that at the respective ends of each wireway 34 a pair of jacks 36 are provided, one of each pair being for electrically interconnecting one carrel-desk structure with another.

The transverse strips 28 on the member 10 are thin and so are the partition members 46. The members 44 need be only a little thicker than the members 46 in order to space member 22 above the folded over partition members when member 22 is serving as a desk top. In the commercial embodiment of the structure described herein there is only a difference of an inch and a half between the height of the upper surface of member 10 when it is serving as the top of one or more carrels and the height of the upper surface of member 22 when it is serving as the top of a desk, and so in either form the height of the structure is well within the range of approved heights for use in schools.

The leg means, each comprising a leg 16, a leg 13, and a cross bar 20, are preferably locked to the end member 14a in any suitable way when in unfolded position to prevent inadvertent folding of the leg means.

There has thus been provided a structure in which the above-mentioned objects are accomplished in a thoroughly practical manner.

What I claim is:

1. A folding structure adapted for use as a desk and as a carrel and readily convertible from one form to the other, comprising a carrel top, a pair of folding legs and means for supporting them from the top, partition members hinged on the top at spaced intervals and movable from a folded position lying flat on the top and parallel to the top to a position normal to the top, and a carrel back desk-top member connected to the rear side of the carrel top and movable from a position in which it is normal to the carrel top to a position in which it overlies the carrel top and the partition members when they are in folded position and forms a desk top, a wireway mounted on the carrel back-desk top member extending lengthwise of the member adjacent its edge which is its upper edge when it is disposed to form the back of a carrel, said wireway being provided with apertures which register with the respective partition member when they are in unfolded position, and bolts mounted on the partition members in position to be moved into the apertures respectively when the partition members are in upright position to lock them in unfolded position.

2. A folding structure adapted for use as a desk and as a carrel and readily convertible from one form to the other, comprising, a. carrel top, a pair of folding legs and means for supporting them from the top, partition members hinged on the top at spaced intervals and movable from a folded position lying fiat on the top and parallel to the top to a position normal to the top, and a carrel back desk-top member connected to the rear side of the carrel top and movable from a position in which it is normal to the carrel top to a position in which it overlies the carrel top and the partition members when they are in folded position and forms a desk top, transverse strips provided at spaced intervals on the face of the carrel back-desk top member which is its front surface when it is positioned to function as the back of a carrel and its under surface when it is positioned superimposed over the carrel top and the folded down partition memers to serve as a desk top, the strips being disposed to rest directly on the carrel top when the carrel back-desk top is serving as a desk top, between the folded down partition members, and being of sufficient thickness to space the carrel back-desk top member sufiiciently above the folded down partition members to take substantially all of the weight of said carrel back-desk top member.

3. A folding structure adapted for use as a desk and as a carrel and readily convertible from one form to the other, comprising, a carrel top, a pair of folding legs and means for supporting them from the top, partition members hinged on the top at spaced intervals and movable from a folded position lying flat on the top and parallel to the top to a position normal to the top, and a carrel back desk-top member connected to the rear side of the carrel top and movable from a position in which it is normal to the carrel top to a position in which it overlies the carrel top and the partition members when they are in folded position and forms a desk top, transverse strips disposed at spaced intervals on the face of the carrel back-desk top member which is its front surface when it is positioned to function as the back of a carrel and its under surface when it is positioned superimposed over the carrel top and the folded down partition members to serve as a desk top, the strips being disposed to rest directly on the carrel top when the carrel back-desk top is serving as a desk top, between the folded down partition members, the transverse strips being of sufiicient thickness to space the carrel back-desk top member sufficiently above the folded down partition members to take substantially all of the weight of said carrel back-desk top member, said transverse strips being also disposed along the carrel back-desk top member so that when said member is in upright unfolded position the strips serve as stop and lateral support means for the partition members respectively when they are unfolded.

4. A folding structure adapted for use as a desk and as a carrel and readily convertible from one form to the other, comprising, a carrel top, a pair of folding legs and means for supporting them from the top, partition members hinged on the top at spaced intervals and movable from a folded position lying flat on the top and parallel to the top'to a position normal to the top, and a carrel back desk-top member connected to the rear side of the carrel top and movable from a position in which it is normal to the carrel top to a position in which it overlies the carrei top and the partition members when they are in folded position and forms a desk top, a wireway, of the kind having at intervals jacks for receiving jack plugs attached to earphones, mounted on the carrel back-desk top member and extending lengthwise of the member adjacent its edge which is its upper edge when it is disposed as a carrel back and on its face which is its under face when it is used as a desk top, said member being sufficientlywider than the carrel top so that when it is in use as a desk top the wireway is disposed extending down in front of the front margin of the carrel top and the front margins of the folded partition members.

5. A folding structure adapted for use as a desk and as a carrel and readily convertible from one form to the other, comprising, a carrel top, a pair of folding legs and means for supporting them from the top, partition members hinged on the top at spaced intervals and movable from a folded position lying fiat on the top and parallel to the top to a position normal to the top, and a carrel back desk-top member connected to the rear side of the carrel top and movable from a position in which it is normal to the carrel top to a position in which it overlies the camel top and the partition members when they are in folded position and forms a desk top, the carrel top having transverse strips disposed at spaced intervals on its upper surface, said strips being extended beyond the rear margin of the carrel top and inclined upwardly at an angle to the upper surface of the carrel top, and means disposed transversely on the surface of the carrel back-desk top which is its front surface when serving as a carrel back, and disposed to register with the extended, upwardly inclined'ends of said strips, said means defining slots in which the ends of said strips are respectively received and which coact with the said ends to provide pin and slot connection means enabling the carrcl back-desk top to be moved between a plane normal to the carrel top to a plane parallel to the carrel top.

6. A folding structure adapted to be folded into a compact structure disposed in a plurality of adjacent parallel planes and unfolded to form a desk or a carrel, which comprises, a first member, support leg means hinged to the first member so that they are movable between an unfolded position in which they support the first member, into a folded position in which they are disposed substantially parallel to the first member, partition members hinged on the upper surface of the first member and movable between a folded position in which they are each disposed substantially parallel to the first member and a position in which hey are substantially normal to the first member and spaced apart in substantially parallel relation to one another, and a second member slidingly connected to the first member so that it is movable between an unfolded position in which it is disposed behind the first member and extending partly above and partly below the first member, in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the first member, and a folded position in which it is superimposed over the first member and over the partition members when the partition members are all in folded position, and means at spaced intervals on the second member disposed to act respectively as stop means 6 limiting the unfolding of the partition members to positions in which they are respectively substantially normal to the first member.

7. A folding structure adapted to be folded into a compact structure disposed in a plurality of adjacent parallel planes and unfolded to form a desk or acarrel, which comprises, a first member, a leg support means hinged to the first member so' that they are movable between an unfolded position in which they support the first member into a folded position in which they are dis posed substantially parallel to the first member, partition members hinged on the upper surface of the first member and movable between a folded position in which they are disposed substantially parallel to the first member and a position in which they are substantially normal to the first member and spaced apart in substantially parallel relation to one another, and a second member slidingly connected to the first member so that it is movable between an unfolded position in which it is disposed behind the first member and extending partly above and partly below the first member, in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the first member, and a folded position in which it is superimposed over the first member and over the partition members when the partition members are all in folded position, a shelf below the first member, support means for the shelf depending from the first member, and a wireway extending longitudinally of the second member and having at spaced intervals jacks adapted to receive jack plug means and interconnect said means with electrical leads contained within the wireway, the width of the first and second members, and the length of the partition members being such that when the second member is superimposed over the first member and the folded partition members the wireway will be disposed in front of the first member and in front of the forward ends of the partition members.

8. A folding structure adapted to be folded into a compact structure disposed in a plurality of adjacent parallel planes and unfolded to form a desk or a carrel, which comprises, a first member, leg support means hinged to the first member so that they are movable between an unfolded position in which they support the first member into a folded position in which they are disposed substantially parallel to the first member, partition members hinged on the upper surface of the first member and movable between a folded position in which they are disposed substantially parallel to the first member and a position in which they are substantially normal to the first member and spaced apart in substantially parallel relation to one another, and a second member slidingly connected to the first member so that it is movable between an unfolded position in which it is disposed behind the first member and extending partly above and partly below the first member, in a plane substantially normal to the plane of first member, and a folded position in which it is superimposed over the first member and over the partition members when the partition members are all in folded position, a shelf below the first member, support means for the'shelf depending from the first member, and a'wireway extending longitudinally of the second member and having at spaced intervals jacks adapted to receive jack plug means and interconnect said means with electrical leads contained within the wireway, the width of the first and second members, and the length of the partition members being such that when the second member is superimposed over the first member and the folded partition members the wireway will be disposed in front of the first member and in front of the forward ends of the partition members, and means for spacing the second. member sufficiently above the first member, when it is in its position in which it serves as a desk top, to dispose the wireway in front of the first 7 member and above the said shelf, leaving ready access to the shelf.

9. In a structure which is convertible between a carrel and a desk the combination of a first member adapted to be disposed horizontally and serve as the top of a carrel, a second member adapted to serve as a carrel back, coacting means carried by said members respectively and interconnecting them in such a way that the second member is movable between a position in which it is substantially normal to the first member, behind the first member and extending partly below the first member, to a position in which it is superimposed over the first member, first transverse strip members provided on the first member in alignment with second transverse members provided on the second member, and partition members, adapted to form the sides of a carrel, extending transversely of the first member and hingedly connected at the bottom to said first transverse strip members respectively for movement between a folded position in which they are disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the first member to an upright position in which they are disposed in abutting relation to the second transverse members respectively.

10. In a structure which is convertible between a carrel and a desk the combination of a first member adapted to be disposed horizontally and serve as the top of a carrel, a second member adapted to serve as a carrel back, coacting means carried by said members respectively and interconnecting them in such a way that the second member is movable between a position in which it is substantially normal to the first member, behind the first member and extending partly below the first member, to a position in which it is superimposed over the first member, first transverse strip members provided on the first member in alignment with second transverse members provided on the second member, and partition members, adapted to form the sides of a carrel, extending transversely of the first member and hingedly connected at the bottom to said first transverse strip members respectively for movement between a folded position in which they are disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the first member to an upright position in which they are disposed in abutting relation to the second transverse members respectively, the partition members being hinged to the first transverse members by hinges comprising a leaf wider than the thickness of a partition member, a portion of said leaf being secured to a first transverse member and another portion adjacent the hinge pintle extending under the margin of a partition member which is its bottom margin when it is in unfolded position, and a second leaf which is secured to the partition member on the far side of said partition member from the said first transverse member.

11. A folding structure adapted for use as a desk and as a carrel and readily unfolded from one form to the other, comprising, a first member, which serves as the carrel top when the structure is employed as a carrel, and as an under lying support member when the structure is employed as a desk, a shelf disposed below the top in parallel relationship with the top, means spacing apart and interconnecting the top and shelf, a pair of support means, and means pivotally connecting the support means to the spacing and interconnecting means respectively with the upper ends of the support means extending under the first member, a second member, which serves as the carrel back when the structure is employed as a carrel and as the desk top when the structure is employed as a desk, and means inter-relating the first and second members in a manner such that the second member may be moved from a position in which it is disposed behind and at right angles to the first member, extending both above and below the first member, to a position in which it is superimposed over the first member, in a plane substantially parallel with the first member.

12. A folding structure adapted for use as a desk and as a carrel and readily convertible from one form to the other, comprising, a first member, which serves as the carrel top when the structure is employed as a carrel, and as an underlying support member when the structure is employed as a desk, a shelf disposed below the top in parallel relationship with the top, means spacing apart and interconnecting the top and the shelf, a pair of support means, and means intermediate the ends of the support means respectively, pivotally connecting the support means to the ends of the shelf, with the upper ends of the support means extending under the first member, a second member, which serves, as the carrel back when the structure is employed as a carrel, and as the desk top when the structure is employed as a desk, and means interrelating the first and second members in a manner such that the second member may be moved from a position in which it is disposed behind and at right angles to the first member, and extending both above and below the first member, to a position in which it is superimposed over, the first member in a plane substantially parallel with the first member, and with the front edge of the second member disposed forwardly of the front edge of the first member, partition members disposed longitudinally of the first and second members, and means for pivotally mounting the partition members for movement between, a position in which they are substantially normal to the first and second members, when the structure is employed as a carrel, and a position in which they are disposed in a plane intermediate and substantially parallel to the planes of the first and second members respectively when the second member is superimposed over the first member.

13. A folding carrel comprising, a top, support means, and means interconnecting the support means to the top for movement bet-ween a position substantially at right angles to the top and a position substantially parallel to the top, a back, and means inter-relating the top and the back for movement between an open, operative position in which the back is disposed behind and normal to the top, and extends partly above and partly below the top, and a position in which the back is superimposed over the top, in a plane adjacent to, and substantially parallel with, the plane of the top, and partition members, and means inter-relating the partition members and the top for movement between an open position in which the partition members are normal to the top extending upwardly from the top, and a position in which the partition members are disposed in a plane adjacent to, and substantially parallel with, the plane of the top.

14. A folding carrel comprising, a top, support means, and means interconnecting the support means to the top for movement between a position substantially at right angles to the top and a position substantially parallel to the top, a back, and means inter-relating the top and the back for movement between an open, operative position in which the back is disposed behind and normal to the top, and extends partly above and partly below the top, and a position in which the back is superimposed over the top, in a plane adjacent to, and substantially parallel with the top and partition means, and means inter-relating the partition members and the top for movement between an open, operative position in which the partition members are normal to the top and also normal to the back, and a position in which the partition members are disposed in a plane adjacent to, and substantially parallel with the plane of the top, a wireway mounted on the back, extending lengthwise of the back adjacent its edge which is its upper edge when it is in unfolded, operative position, the means relating the back to the top being operative when the back is folded to dispose the wireway projecting downwardly in front of the top.

15. A folding structure adapted for use as a carrel comprising, a top, a back, support means for the top and back and partition members hinged on the top, and means for inter-relating the top partition members, back and support means for movement of the partition members back and support means between an operative position in which the partition members, the support means and the back are substantially normal to the top and the partition members are also normal to the back, and a position in which the top partition members, back and support means are disposed in adjacent and substantially parallel planes.

16. A folding structure adapted for use as a carrel comprising, a top, a back, support means for the top and back, and means for inter-relating the top, back and support means for movement of the partition members, back and support means between an operative position, in which the partition members, the support means and the back are substantially normal to the top and the partition members are also normal to the top, and a position in which the top, partition members, back and support means are disposed in adjacent and substantially parallel planes, and a wireway mounted on the back and extendin-g lengthwise of the back adjacent its edge which i its upper edge when the stnucture is unfolded, the means inter-relating the back to the top being such as to permit the top to be moved upwardly and forwardly, from a position in which it is disposed at right angles to the top and extends partly below and partly above the top, to a position in which it is superimposed upon the top with the wireway disposed forwardly of the front edge of the top and projecting below the level of the top.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 679,980 8/01 Miller 108111 X 943,236 12/09 Campbell 312255 1,463,289 7/23 Mitchell 3 l2241 X 1,872,833 8/32 Silverman 108-132 2,222,974 11/40 Bow 211184 X 2,671,002 3/54 White 312-255 2,878,092 3/59 Mitchell 312-310 3,054,651 9/62 King 312280 3,079,473 2/63 Hoven 312--223 X FOREIGN PATENTS 165,468 11/33 Sweden.

OTHER REFERENCES Audiovisual Instruction, 5/61, published by the National Education Association, page 211.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

15. A FOLDING STRUCTURE ADAPTED FOR USE AS A CARREL COMPRISING, A TOP, A BACK, SUPPORT MEANS FOR THE TOP AND BACK AND PARTITION MEMBERS HINGED ON THE TOP, AND MEANS FOR INTER-RELATING THE TOP PARTITION MEMBERS, BACK AND SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOVEMENT OF THE PARTITION MEMBERS BACK AND SUPPORT MEANS BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH THE PARTITION MEMBERS, THE SUPPORT MEANS AND THE BACK ARE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE TOP AND THE PARTITION MEMBERS ARE ALSO NORMAL TO THE BACK, AND A POSITION IN WHICH THE TOP PARTITION MEMBERS, BACK AND SUPPORT MEANS ARE DISPOSED IN ADJACENT AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL PLANES. 